Osip Nikiforov hails from a family of musicians. Born in 1994, Osip began his musical training at seven years of age with his father at the Children’s Music School in Abakhan, Alexander Nikiforov. Just two years later, Osip won his first of many accolades to follow: the Grand Prize at Abakhan’s city-wide “Young Talents” Regional Competition “A. A. Kenel.” In 2005, Osip took second place at the International Competition “Najdal-2005” in Ulan-Ude. Osip also won first place at the Competition-Festival K.N.Igumnov in Lipetsk during the same year. In the spring of 2006, Osip won a gold medal at the Delphi Youth Games in Krasnoyarsk, and subsequently won a gold medal in the Fourth Delphi Youth Games of all former Soviet Republics in the fall. During April of last year, Osip received the first prize at the Third Governor’s International Competition “B. A. Gavrilin” in Vologda, he took second place at the 2007 International Piano Competition “Step to Mastery” held in St. Petersburg, as well as the special prize EMCY Art for Music. Osip has performed solo recitals in numerous Siberian cities, and has also collaborated with the Khakassian Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to studying piano performance, Osip also plays the clarinet and the cello. He is a voracious reader, and enjoys playing soccer in his spare time.